Six weeks into their exhaustive coaching search, the Charlotte Hornets appear to be zeroing in on the person they want to move the franchise forward. Kenny Atkinson’s name has been bubbling underneath the surface in league circles dating back to the NBA Draft combine in Chicago last month, and it’s looking more apparent that, barring an unexpected turn, the Golden State Warriors’ assistant has emerged as a serious contender to succeed James Borrego as head coach of the Hornets.
More on Hornets Coaching Search
Atkinson is scheduled to meet with owner Michael Jordan at some point in the coming days, league sources confirmed to The Observer, and that’s typically the final step in the process. Jordan did the same thing prior to hiring Borrego in 2018.
Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson has emerged as a front-runner for the Charlotte Hornets’ head-coaching job, sources tell The Athletic, and will meet next week with team officials — including owner Michael Jordan — in the next step of his candidacy.
It will mark the third meeting between the Hornets and Atkinson, and the first involving Jordan, sources said. Charlotte has been in no rush to make a hire. Atkinson currently is coaching in the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics, a series that could last until June 19.
Two-time Coach of the Year Mike D’Antoni and former Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts are among the other finalists in the Hornets’ coaching search that started in late April when the team fired James Borrego. Neither D’Antoni nor Stotts has so far advanced to the Jordan stage of the process, sources said, but that possibility remains.
James Plowright: Kupchak on the next head coach "I can't give a timeline, we hope to have a coach in place before the draft but not within the next week"
Shams Charania: The Charlotte Hornets will interview former Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts for their head coaching job this week, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
Shams Charania: Bucks assistant Darvin Ham will also interview for a second time in-person for the Hornets' head coaching job, and he has emerged as a serious candidate, sources said.
As team representatives from throughout the NBA prepare to head to Chicago for the annual tradition of a week's worth of predraft activities starting Monday, there is ongoing buzz in league coaching circles that Mike D'Antoni is in a strong position to land the Charlotte Hornets' head coaching job. Defensive issues were said to be a key element of James Borrego's unexpected downfall after four solid seasons, but Charlotte is nonetheless said to want a veteran coach who can forge a strong connection with All-Star guard LaMelo Ball, who would presumably thrive in an offense D'Antoni surely tailors around him completely. Another factor in D'Antoni's favor despite his reputed aversion to defensive matters: Hornets president of basketball operations Mitch Kupchak already hired D'Antoni once with the Lakers.
Other candidates known to have interviewed for the Hornets' post include Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson, Bucks assistant Darvin Ham and Mavericks assistant Sean Sweeney.
Adrian Wojnarowski: ESPN Sources: The Los Angeles Lakers have received permission to interview Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson for the franchise’s head coaching job. Atkinson has already interviewed for the Charlotte Hornets’ job.
The Hornets, league sources say, would have interest in Snyder if he indeed parts ways with the Jazz following Utah's third first-round exit in the past four seasons. Very little, beyond that, has seeped out yet about Charlotte's search. Snyder is expected to meet with Utah-based reporters as early as this week for his annual end-of-season news conference after Jazz general manager Justin Zanik said Friday that there is “no other partner” he would rather have.
